My Mute Bride

Not long after Victor left, Rachel heard the doorbell ring.

Originally thinking he left something behind, she opened the door, only to see a courier.

“Ms. Rachel Hudson?”

Upon hearing that, Rachel nodded.

“There are two intracity express parcels for you. Please sign here.”

Startled, she signed for the parcels, thereafter receiving a cake and a paper bag.

Right now on the table, there was still half an uneaten cake that Victor had rushed out to buy at noon upon finding out it was her birthday.

So, who bought the cake that the courier delivered?

Setting it aside on the table for now, she pulled a rectangular suede box out of the paper bag.

With a click, she opened it and discovered a silver-colored necklace in the box that glimmered underneath the light

The pendant was in the simple design of a small sun with a hollow center.

Putting down the box, she found a card on top of the cake box that simply read ‘Happy Birthday’ without any signature.

Dumbfounded, she stared at the items until her phone started vibrating.

It was a text message from Julian reading, ‘Did you receive what I sent?’

Immediately, she understood. ‘I did. I was wondering who would remember my birthday.’

‘Don’t forget that you’re a patient of mine. It’s not strange that I would remember your birthday.’

‘Thank you.

‘You’re welcome. Are you free? I just finished work; come down for a walk with me!

Looking at the time, she agreed, ‘Okay.’

At this hour after dinner, the community was lively. All of the houses were lit up, and the sound of children laughing could be heard around the neighborhood as they ran around playing.

she could even offer some to anyone, a group of children was surrounding her and

cake is

she lifted a knife and a paper plate, preparing to cut into

side. “Today is Miss Rachel’s birthday. Before she treats you all to some

head of the group, which happened to be a little girl in pigtails,

the

her eyes and make

blow out the

Rachel shook her head to indicate to Julian that there was no need to

and had the children sing ‘Happy Birthday’ in unison. The delicate chorus of young voices

“Make a wish.”

There’s no need.

your birthday, Miss Rachel. My mommy says you have to say it in your heart and not out loud, or the wish won’t come true,” a very

lowered her head to look, she found a little girl who wasn’t even at table height yet

under the gazes of the children, clasped her hands and made a wish.

say thank you!” their

each other’s faces. Just like

the streetlamp, Rachel finally smiled for the first time in

her back to her apartment building, Julian continued, “The most important thing right now is to

I might as well pretend it never existed for now. At that point, Rachel’s

changed the topic and told her, “Go on upstairs, then. It’s been getting colder lately, so make sure to keep warm since

turned and headed

was inside her apartment and

a loud slam, the door was propped open by a large hand

her head up, Rachel saw Justin glowering at her, his darkened face made all the more grotesque by the centipede-like scar on it. Suddenly,

he out on

into the house and

see you’ve been

took two steps back. Why

her resentfully, he stalked toward her as he pulled off his necktie and threw it onto the couch.

icebergs as he sneered, “I suppose you

approached her, forcing

no idea what she did

of her arm and pulled, she staggered after him